Summary: God has a purpose, place and people. All the Master Potter needs to fulfill his design is yielded mud!

1 ¶ The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words. 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he was working a work on the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made in clay was ruined in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says the LORD. Behold, As the clay in the potter’s hands, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel Jer. 18:1-7 (MKJV)

From Reader’s Digest: A friend of mine awoke one morning to find a puddle of water in the middle of his king-size waterbed. In order to fix the puncture, he rolled the heavy mattress outdoors and filled it with more water so he could locate the leak more easily. The enormous bag of water was impossible to control and began rolling on the hilly terrain. He tried to hold it back, but it headed downhill and landed in a clump of bushes that poked it full of holes. Disgusted, my friend threw out the waterbed frame and moved a standard bed into his room. The next morning, he awoke to find a puddle of water in the middle of the new bed. The upstairs bathroom had a leaky drain.

Many of us, like Israel, are trying to solve the wrong problem.

Today it is in vogue to be a SELF-MADE man. (You can usually tell)

Several observations from Jeremiah:

1- The Potter has a PURPOSE.

1. God’s purpose in creation is to LOVE YOU!

“Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be His through our union with Christ…because of His great love, God had already decided that through Jesus Christ He would make us His children-this was God’s pleasure and purpose.” Eph. 1:4-5 (GN)

2. You were created to have a personal relationship with God and to ENJOY all of His creation!

“So God created human beings, making them in His image. He blessed them, and said, …live all over the earth and bring it under control. I am putting you in charge.” Gen. 1:27-28 (LB)

Jesus said, “I have come in order that you might have life - life in its fulness!” Jn. 10:10 (LB)

3. It is hard to enjoy a vessel “ruined” by SIN.

2- The Potter has a HOUSE.

1. The Potter’s house is the “CHURCH”.

2. It is in His house that He does His greatest WORK. “God is always at work”

3. In the BIBLE there is no such thing as a Christian who doesn’t go to church!

Therefore, my brothers, having boldness to enter into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies having been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful who promised), 24 and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. Heb. 10:19-27 (MKJV)

3- The Potter has a PEOPLE.

1. I’ve got a “clay” problem: My clay has a FREE WILL.

2. I must choose to STAY on the wheel in order to fulfill the Master Potter’s purpose. (Above)

3. I must endure the PROCESS to become the PRODUCT!

4. I might look like nothing but MUD, but for the Potter that’s perfect!

5. On the wheel I am NEVER out of contact with the Master’s Hand.

Don’t underestimate what God can do in your life if you will SURRENDER.

Don’t minimize the cost of a hard HEART.

Put your life in the hands of the Master Potter.

“Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way, Mold me and make me after thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still.”